The Last Enemy

‘The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.’ – 1 Cor. 15:26

 

In the cold and dark of an obscure Judean hillside tomb a decisive blow has been dealt to that singular nemesis, a fiend before whom all men forced grimaced obeisance.  On that Sunday morning at the first rays of dawn death itself has met its indomitable match.  In the wee hours, death, that proudest of enemies, has died. A new day has dawned, a new life has begun, a new creation has been called forth to be, and a new Adam has arisen to take rightful place. Death, once the merciless and unfaltering conqueror has met its match. The gears and grind of a grand reversal could be heard over the faint lilt of sparrows regaling the new day with Talitha’s* song.  At the ope’d rolling of the immense stone effusive life spilled out brighter than the noonday sun, never more to be held captive by darken’d fate. Grave-clothes folded neatly, to be used…nevermore. In the distance a serpent grasped and gasped for Life. Simultaneously death has been cast into that gaping sarcophagus while the stone rolled back, and further back, and finally ever-sealed, oathed and stamped with bloodied crest.  Death, alas, where now is your victor's cry? Death, the mocker, lies silent. The slender greened bud pierced through the ebony loam. That long-cursed Curser has been finally and forever cursed. Death, the once-reigning king, has become the servant-pauper now in ever-bended stoop before the new crowned Prince of Life. 

Death be damned. 

The long-awaited Resurrection morning brought Life, and death itself has now become entombed.

  

DJM 

 

Resurrection Sunday, 2024

*Mark 5:35-43